Wisdom of

Traditional Japanese Homes

Lives on Today
A Hint for Your Smart and Tasteful Living

Wisdom of Traditional Japanese Homes Lives on Today Objectives of Residential Architecture

From ancient times, the Japanese houses have been built with wooden frames Japanese homes and lifestyles have evolved in harmony with the natural envi-
including elements such as columns, groundsills and beams, mud walls coated ronment of each region and also correspond to changes in social conditions
with finishing materials and roofs with thatch, wood boards, bark, or tiles. and family relationships. Revisiting traditional residential architecture and
Regional architectural styles utilize an abundance of natural materials pro- lifestyles formed in close relationship with the natural, social and family envi-
duced and processed locally, and are passed on from generation to generation. ronments may offer some ideas and designs that can be integrates into mod-
Looking over the exterior of the homes, you will see that roofs are sloped ern residential construction.
and have overhanging eaves. Because Japan gets a lot of rain, it is essential
to take measures to prevent damage to wooden structures from penetration
by rainwater. The sloped roofs swiftly drain off rainwater and the overhang-
ing eaves protect external walls from rain. Those eaves also effectively shield Natural environment
the external walls from strong sunlight in summer. Large windows between
Climate and natural features
columns and beams allow wind and outdoor air to enter the house as well of the region
as sunshine. These eco-symbiotic techniques which wisely control and uti- Social Environment
lize the local climate may also be applicable to today’s housing. We should Social and cultural activities
furthermore re-evaluate these measures especially now that energy demand
restriction has become a critical problem.
Inside of the house, you will find some Japanese-style rooms with grass Housing
mat floors, a wood-floor veranda which serves to connect the inside space and Family
the outside, an earthen floor hard-packed with plaster or concrete, and spaces
with wooden floors, each of which had its own function. Japanese-style rooms
Sloped roof with tiles (Toyama were used to entertain guests or as a living room for the family. Rooms with
Prefecture)
earthen floors were used for kitchens works and for work related activities
such as repairing farming/fishing equipment. It was indispensable to have all Living
of these-functions integrated into a single housing unit in those days, but is
no longer required for modern living. However, when we imagine the people’s Nature/Society/Family Surrounding our House and Living – Unvarying in the Past and Present
lifestyles and various activities carried out in the house in those days, it is
conceivable that this integrated functions of a house considerably contributed Based on the history of the Japanese houses developed and used in close
to adding tastefulness and profoundness to their daily lives. It may therefore relationship with the natural, social and family environment, we have identi-
Overhanging eave, veranda and sweep-
out door (Kumamoto Prefecture) be worthwhile to re-evaluate these functions and to explore the possibility of fied the following 4 items as the objectives of residential architecture.
adopting them to modern housing and lifestyles.
In olden days, various techniques and innovations were incorporated in
houses to make them last long, self-sustained in the region, and comfortable Objectives of Residential Architecture
to live in, while accommodating diversified lifestyles. The booklet “Wisdom To facilitate sound human relationships
of Traditional Japanese Homes: A Hint for Your Smart and Tasteful Life” To enjoy everyday lives
revisits building techniques and styles of living of the Japanese traditional To support comfortable and eco-friendly living
Adjacent Japanese-style rooms parti- homes offer, while introducing some ideas and techniques that may be appli- To protect against the external environment
tioned by fusuma and shoji sliding doors
(Yamagata Prefecture) cable to modern residential architecture.
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Elements of Japanese Architecture

Elements of Japanese Homes

The four objectives of modern residential architecture require management architecture.
of two aspects. One is a hard aspect, including type of structure, materials and The following matrix table shows the relationship between elements and
design; the other is a soft aspect including maintenance and management of objectives of Japanese residential architecture. In order to achieve the objec-
the house. tives of construction, it would help to select from the table the elements
For the hard aspect, we have identified 36 building elements of the which correspond to your objectives and adopt them for your house.
Japanese housing shown in the following photographs. The items presented We invite you to use the table to identify the elements that will help you
here were selected from a wide range of traditional and modern residential realize ideal home for you.

Relationship between
Relationship between Objectives of residential architecture Objectives of residential architecture Elements and Objectives
Elements and Objectives To support comfortable To protect against the Strong
To facilitate sound human relationships To enjoy everyday lives
of Japanese Residential Architecture and eco-friendly living external environment
Family members Enjoy and Provide comfortable
Perceive Provide comfortable Mitigate forces of
watch over each appreciate living with cool
Entertain guests seasonal changes living with warm air nature which
other and grow abundance and refreshing air
and their feelings in winter damage houses
together in daily living in the summer
Weak
Sloped roof
Tiled roof
Roof/Eave
Monitor roof
Large-Projection Eave
Board wall
Exterior wall
Plaster-coated wall
High Window/Sylight
Jimado*1
Sweep-out door
Opening Window eaves
Sunshade (Sudare*2/Yoshizu*3)
Lattice
Sliding storm doors
Fusuma*4
Elements of Japanese Architecture

Interior doors Sliding door

& *1 Jimado : Window located at the
windows Shoji *5 bottom of the wall and attached to
Ranma*6 the floor. (Sweep-out window)
*2 Sudare : Bamboo blind hung over
Adjacent rooms openings and rolled-up when it is
Engawa*7 not in use.
Interior space *3 Yoshizu : Reed blind propped up
Entry Hall against window/door head to cover
Open ceiling space openings.
*4 Fusuma : Wood-framed sliding door
Tatami *8 covered with thick paper
Floor Wooden-floor rooms *5 Shoji : Wood-framed sliding screen
covered with thin paper
Doma*9 *6 Ranma : Japanese transom window
used in Japanese-style rooms
Shinkabe*10
Interior design *7 Engawa :Wood-floor veranda inside
Central pillar the structure
*8 Tatami ( Japanese-style rooms)
Tokonoma*11 : Grass floor mat used for the
Interior cultural
Family Buddhist/Shinto alters Japanese-style rooms
fixtures *9 Doma : Space with an earthen floor
Irori *12 and tataki earthen floor hard-packed
Mud wall with plaster or concrete
Materials *10 Shinkabe : Wall which exposes
Natural/local materials columns and beams
*11 Tokonoma : Japanese style alcove in
Nure-en*13 Japanese-style rooms
Tsubo-niwa/naka-niwa*14 * Irori : Open fireplace made by
12

Outdoors cutting away part of the floor

Planting
* Nure-en : Open veranda made with
13

Front garden wood or bamboo

*14 Tsubo-niwa/naka-niwa : Small
Layout Layout courtyard

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Elements of Japanese Architecture 〉
〉Roof/eave 〉
〉Exterior wall 〉
〉Opening

Roof/eave Exterior wall

Sloped roof Board wall

勾配屋根 Koubaiyane 板壁 Itakabe

A board wall is an exterior finished

material originally used to protect the
painted surface of the external wall
Because Japan gets a lot of rain, sloped from wind and rain. The boards can be
roofs are used to swiftly drain off mounted in the form of wood siding or
rainwater. vertical paneling. 1
Sloped roofs quickly drain off the rain to make roofs more resistant The roofs are covered by metal and a snow dividing ridge attached External wall finished with plaster coat at the top and boards on Partially replaced boarding and repainted so the repaired part is
to rainwater. (Oita Prefecture) to the top of the roof so snow does not accumulate. The sloped the bottom where the wall is exposed to rain. not conspicuous. (Washima, Niigata Prefecture)
roofs are well harmonized with the landscape of mountain range.
(Toyama Prefecture)

Roof/eave Exterior wall

Tiled roof Plaster-coated

瓦屋根 Kawarayane
wall
漆喰壁 Shikkuikabe

The history of Japanese roof tiles dates

back to Asuka Period (550-710 AD). The plaster used for the Japanese
The tiles fit the climate and natural houses primarily consists of calcium
features of Japan and are considered to hydroxide (slaked lime). It may be
be a desirable roofing material offering used for interior walls as well as exte-
durability as well as beauty. rior walls.
Roof range with beautiful roof tiles (Yatsuo, Toyama Prefecture) Unique scenery of the region with the locally produced red roof Plaster coated wall of a traditional Japanese house Plaster coated interior wall produced by skilled plasterers.
tiles (Iwami, Shimane Prefecture)

Roof/eave Opening

Monitor roof High window/

越屋根 Koshiyane
skylight
高窓・天窓 Takamado/Tenmado

A monitor roof is a small roof built on

the top of the main roof which was Windows are placed in the upper part
originally developed to allow smoke of walls while a skylight is mounted
from the open hearth and cooking in the ceiling. These are effective for
stove to escape. It is still cleverly providing light and ventilation while
employed in modern architecture. 1 1 letting heat escape. 3
Beautiful landscape created by monitor roof Gentle sunlight through the monitor roof window High windows and skylight provide lighting and ventilation for High windows mounted in the upper portion of inner opening in a
earthen floor rooms in a traditional townhouse room with a normal ceiling height

Roof/eave Opening

Extended eave Jimado window

深い軒 Fukai-noki 地窓 Jimado

Homes are provided with extended A jimado is a window mounted low in

eaves to protect external walls from the exterior wall attached to the floor.
rainwater as well as to shut off the It provides lighting, ventilation, and
sunlight in summer. 4 5 enables you to see outside.
Extended eaves protect exterior walls from rainwater. (Yamagata Beautiful scenery with shade created by large eaves (Minamata Opening facing a small courtyard in a traditional townhouse Jimado window to provide ventilation
Prefecture) Eco-House, Kumamoto Prefecture)

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Elements of Japanese Architecture 〉

〉Opening 〉
〉Interior Doors & Windows

Opening Opening

Sweep-out Sliding storm

window doors
掃き出し窓 Hakidashimado 雨戸 Amado
A sweep-out door opens outward from
the floor up to the lintel (covering the
inner size). Sweep-out doors enable Wooden doors are mounted outside
you to enter or exit each room. There openings to protect them against wind
are several types of sweep-out doors, and rain. Some modern houses have
such as double sliding doors and shutters and movable louvers instead
retractable doors. 1 of wooden storm doors. 7
Sweep-out doors enhance connected feeling between inside and Fully opening retractable sliding doors enhances the feeling of Wooden sliding storm doors of a typical traditional house Movable louver type sliding storm doors
outside in a traditional Japanese house. continuity of the living room, the external deck and the garden.

Opening Interior Doors & Windows

Window eaves Fusuma sliding

窓庇 Madohisashi
doors
襖 Fusuma

Window eaves are mounted above Fusuma is a wood-framed sliding door

each window to keep out rainwater which is lined with thick paper and
and sunlight, especially when there then covered with paper or cloth.
is no roof above the window, or the Fusuma offer a variety of components
roof eaves and verge are too small or such as covering paper, lining paper, a
mounted too far from the window. 1 7 frame, and door pulls. 1 8
Window eave mounted above window on the gable side Window eave above sweep-out doors mounted in wall without Retractable-type fusuma (with a pocket) Contemporary use of fusuma in modern living
an eave

Opening Interior Doors & Windows

Sunshade Sliding doors

日除け Hiyoke 引き戸 Hikido

Sliding door is a generic term for

Sunshades are made of reed or bam- doors which open/close by sliding
boo strips woven with strings or thin them horizontaly. The types and the
ropes. Hanging sunscreens outside specifications vary significantly, such
windows or under eaves screens as a single sliding door, double sliding
sunlight. 5 2 doors, board door and lattice, etc. 1 1
Sunscreen hung under an eave; would be more durable if hung a Hooks attached underneath the eaves to hang sunscreens. Wood board sliding doors for partition in a traditional house Interior doors which incorporate muso (window made of narrow
little more inward. boards connected on two rails each of which slides for opening
and closing) on the top for interior ventilation

Opening Interior Doors & Windows

Lattice Shoji
格子 Koshi 障子 Shoji

A lattice is made by assembling thin Shoji is a wood-framed sliding door

wooden strips vertically and hori- or window covered with thin paper.
zontally. Lattices are attached to the Depending on the assembly technique
building exterior or windows/doors. and the proportion of the wooden
Lattices function to keep people out- frame, it can create a variety of design
side from seeing in, while allowing air features, including the Japanese style
and light to get in. 1 and Western style. 1
In this traditional townhouse, the lattice was set to keep people When lattice doors are closed, one can see from inside but cannot Yukimi shoji elegantly keeps people outside from seeing in An example of using shoji in the Western interior design.
outside from seeing in. be seen from outside, while allowing ventilation and cutting glare
of sunshine.

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 Elements of Japanese Architecture 〉
〉Interior Doors & Windows 〉
〉Interior space 〉
〉Floors

Interior Doors & Windows Interior space

Ranma transom Open ceiling

欄間 Ranma
space
吹抜け Fukinuke
Ranma is a Japanese transom or an
ornamental screen mounted between
the ceiling and lintel. Ranma used An open ceiling provides a high ceiling
to located above fusuma or shoji in extended over two floors in height. It
Japanese-style rooms. Ranma are how- provides a link between the upper and
ever sometimes used above swinging lower floors and facilitates circulation
doors in Western-style rooms. 1 1 of air in the house.
Traditional ranma above fusuma in traditional residence Ranma that closes to control ventilation Open ceiling space above a walk-through earthen floor a town- Open ceiling space provides the entire house with a sense of
house provides lighting and ventilation. continuity.

Interior space Floors

Adjacent rooms Tatami

続き間 Tsuzukima (Japanese-style rooms)
畳 Tatami
Large Japanese-style rooms can be
divided by fusuma sliding doors, or can Tatami is the representative floor finish
be restored to a large room whenever material for rooms of a Japanese-style
necessary by just removing the fusuma. house. It was originally made with
A combination of Japanese-style room straws for the base mat (tatami-doko)
attached to the Western-style room has and rushes for the covering (tatami-
recently become popular. This type is omote). Tatami is a natural product
included in this booklet. 4 1 that effectively controls moisture. 1 1
Japanese-style room partitioned with fusuma Tatami grass mats on the portion close to the Japanese-style room The tatami room is facing the wood floor on two sides partitioned A half-size tatami mat without the edge covering provides a neutral
give a unified feeling to the two adjacent rooms. with Shoji doors which can open three quarters of each opening. atmosphere which fits the Western style design.
This enhances the sense of continuity and unification of the entire
space.

Interior space Floors

Engawa wood Wooden-floor

floor veranda rooms
縁側 Engawa 板の間 Itanoma
Engawa is wood floor veranda run-
ning separating main rooms from the These are spaces covered with wood-
outdoors. Engawa verandas serve as a en-floor and their species, thickness,
passage to and from the main rooms width and the coating materials are
and supplementary spaces to the main widely diversified. A touch of the solid
rooms. Unlike nure-en, engawa veran- wood floors is specifically soft and
das are located inside the structure. 2 warm. 1 1
Engawa veranda connecting room and garden provides a solemn Engawa veranda facing Japanese-style room in a modern home Using a wood with a warm touch, it is possible to create a space Depending on the type and color of paint, the light softly reflects
atmosphere in a traditional house. comfortable for sitting on chairs and on flooring. and makes the whole of the room bright.

Interior space Floors

Entry hall Earthen floor

玄関 Genkan space
土間 Doma
Doma is a space with an earthen floor
which was traditionally finished with
This is a main entry hall of a house. mud and a tataki floor hard-packed
Compared to older houses, the space with plaster or concrete. Today, we
has generally been reduced today but sometimes find doma covered with tiles
instead of mud and tataki. Although
we now see many unique fixtures in doma are located inside of the house,
the entry hall such as a storage and a they may often be used for outside
small reception space. 6 3 spaces as well for multiple functions. 1 1
Entrance hall covered by tatami mats so that the family can sit and Entrace hall provides a small chatting space. Doma extending from the entrance hall provides a space for vari- Renovated a part of living room to doma which connects to the
receive visitors. ous family activities such as chatting and bicycle storage. balcony. Doma may be constructed in an apartment.

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Elements of Japanese Architecture 〉

〉Interior design 〉
〉Interior cultural fixture 〉
〉Materials 〉
〉Outdoors

Interior design Interior cultural fixture

Shinkabe wall Irori open

真壁 Shinkabe fireplace
Shinkabe is a type of wall with exposed 囲炉裏 Irori
wooden structural members such as This is an open fireplace on floor level
columns and beams. The rest of the formed by cutting away a portion of the
space between them are filled with floor in the house. Irori open fireplaces
mud or a wooden boards finished with are used for cooking, dining and heating
the house. Open fireplaces are not popu-
plaster or wallpaper. It is easier to check lar in Japan anymore, but recessed seat-
condition of the building structure with ing on tatami mats on the floor around
shinkabe than okabe walls, which do not a low table equipped with an oven and a
have exposed structural members. 1 wood stove are still sometimes seen. 1 1
Using a room with shinkabe walls, which present a warm atmo- A combination of shinkabe walls and shoji sliding doors creates a Open fireplace surrounded by board to put things on A living room equipped with a wood stove. Having an open
sphere with a western flavor. sense of continuity between the dining space and the Japanese- ceiling, this room is closely connected to the second floor which
style room. makes the room suitable for family gathering.

Interior design Materials

Central pillar Mud walls

大黒柱 Daikokubashira 土壁 Tsuchikabe
Mud walls are constructed by building a
foundation on the ground called komai,
Originally, the central pillar was a which is a lath made with bamboo
structually important thick pillar and wood strips. This is a traditional
around which the building was built as Japanese wall structure. Shikkui plaster
a symbol of family status. In some of used for the Japanese house and jura-
the modern houses, a central pillar is ku-tsuchi, a high quality clay produced
built in the living rooms to symbolize in Juraku-dai area in Japan, are applied
the family. 1 1 as finishing materials. 1
The central pillar stands between doma earthen floor and zashiki The main pillar in the wood floor room, combined with the open To build mud walls, assemble the komai first and then plaster mud An interior designed with mud walls
rooms. The door sills were originally designed slightly outward celling space, gives visual continuity to the second floor. in several layers.
which required to cut the corner of the tatami mat to give a space
for the central pillar. To avoide this, the door sills were moved
inwards to match the inside corner of the central pilllar.
Interior cultural fixture Materials

Tokonoma Natural and

床の間 Tokonoma
local materials
Tokonoma is The Japanese style alcove 自然素材・地域産材 Shizen-sozai/Chiiki-sanzai
in zashiki rooms (a tatami mat room
used as a drawing room). Recently There are various materials used for
however, it has been increasingly house building such as wood, paper,
popular to freely design new style of soil, rock, bamboo and so forth. The
alcoves and create spaces other than matrials that are procured in the region
alcoves for placing flowers and sea- of the building site are called chiiki-zai,
sonal interior decorations. 1 1 or “local materials.” 4 4
Standard style of the Japanese alcove Tokonoma-like decorational shelves installed in the front of an A natural house made with local wood (Kanayama-sugi) and other A local house renovated using a variety of natural materials
entrance hall natural materials including shikkui plaster, tatami and Japanese
paper.

Interior cultural fixture Outdoors

Family Buddhist Nure-en

and Shinto alters veranda
仏壇・神棚 Butsudan/Kamidana 濡れ縁 Nure-en

These are the spaces for worship and A nure-en veranda is an open veranda
performing religious services for exposed to rain, which consists of
ancestors, and also for reminiscing wood or bamboo boards. Similar to a
the precious memories for the family. wood-deck today’s housing, it is used
Japanese culture calls for providing as the additional space extended from
such spaces in a house. 1 1 the inside 1 2
A Buddhist alter placed in a Japanese-style room connected to the A Shinto alter above the closet. Shinto alters are usually placed on Extentive view from inside, connected to nure-en and outside Nure-en built under large extended eave (wood deck) which gives
living room a stand suspended from a wall, but this alter is kept in the space a feeling of open space extended from inside of the house.
specially prepared for it.

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 Elements of Japanese Architecture

Outdoors

Tsubo-niwa/
Naka-niwa
坪庭・中庭 Tsubo-niwa/Naka-niwa

These small courtyards are surrounded

by the building and often seen in tradi-
tional townhouses. They facilitate light
and ventilation and also let us enjoy
the view. 2 1
A naka-niwa garden viewed from the 3 directions of rooms Tsubo-niwa in front of the entrance hall provides an open and
bright feeling for the entrance

Outdoors

Planting
植栽 Shokusai

In addition to preserving the land-

scape and its appreciation, planting
has various practical functions such
as providing shade, screening wind
and providing a source of wood, foods
(such as fruit) and fuel (firewood). 1 5
Plants on approach to the house and the housing lot border Green curtains of vines such as yoshizu provide shade.
enhance the landscape of the area.

Outdoors

Front garden
前庭 Maeniwa

A front garden of a house is a space

for welcoming the visitors and taking
them into the house. In old times, it
was sometimes used as a half-public
space open to the local community.
A front garden with a calm atmosphere in a traditional house A parking space in an approach to the house, which may be used
for a playing ground for children in the daytime.

Layout

Layout of
buildings
建物配置 Tatemono-haichi

A well-planned building layout con-

tributes to protection against seasonal
winds and enhances of the light intake
and the ventilation in congested urban
areas.
Azuma-dachi is a local way of building houses which face the east By coordinating the locations of tsubo-niwa with the neighbors,
from which gentler winds blow. On the west side, vegetation called lighting and ventilation may be shared by every neighbor.
kainyo is planted. (Toyama Prefecture)

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